The Hillsborough Recorder

LATEST FROM FLORIDA.

Fort Helewan, (Fla.) Sept. 27.

There are now at this post about 150 men only fit for duty, out of eleven companies. Of 90 men who composed the company of dragoons to which I am attached, there are only ten able to do duty; nor will they be able to take the field for several months to come, being entirely broken down. Instead of being able to make a summer campaign, the men are unable to stand the climate when stationary; instead of being able to advance into the enemy's country, we have had to retrograde: "Micanopy was abandoned in consequence of its breaking down the men escorting wagon trains laden with provisions. We have had to fall back upon Black Creek, to which place provisions can be brought in steamboats." General Scott has been censured for not carrying on the campaign during summer—it would have been absurd to attempt it. He did all that any general could under the same circumstances. The nature of the country was the great cause of his failure. He had to contend against the obstacles which Nature threw in his way, and not against the Indians, who hover about, deliver their fire, and fly off, without the possibility of getting at them.—They have trails through the immense hammocks, with which they are familiar, and in this way they harass us with impunity. General Jackson never advanced into these hammocks; he never penetrated farther than the Suwannee river, and he had friendly Indians who could ferret out the hostiles, so that he could get at them. A new campaign is about to open, but no one can anticipate the result.—There are about 3,000 men now in the Territory. Gen. Call has advanced as far as the Suwannee with the brigade of Tennesseans, and the militia of West Florida, making 1,900 men. Gen. Jesup is advancing from Tampa Bay with about 800 regulars and 600 Indians, while Major Pierce, the commanding officer at this Fort, will advance soon, with about 200 regulars, and form a junction with Gen. C. at Camp King.